FanPost

20 Reasons Why The Eagles Will Win the NFC East


Okay, its really 20 thoughts on why the final 53 has me supercharged for the season.

Let me say first, besides commenting on the roster we have, I anticipate us getting at least three or four of the guys we all want back on the practice squad. I personally wanted to keep Bryce Treggs and Dillon Gordon. Except, Marcus Johnson and Shelton Gibson have ridiculous speed, the kind scouts who have never seen them drool over, and are therefore much less likely to make it through waivers. Gordon and Dallas Thomas, my guess is that we won't cry if we lose them since we have a swing tackle in Vaitai, a swing guard in Warmack, and a g/c in Wisniewski. One of them's coming back, maybe both after Gordon gave up those two sacks on Thursday.

Anyway, onto the big boys!

A. There are no shutdown corners anymore. The rules don't allow it. Everyone gets beat. I'm a broken record about this. (ask your parents)

B. Second best thing to having shutdown corners (which don't exist) is to have depth and youth. Howie and Joe did excellent in that department this offseason.

C. Eagles have youth. All five of our active corners, plus Sidney Jones, is under 25 years old.

D. Eagles have depth. Malcolm Jenkins has already proven he can still get down in the slot. Corey Graham has experience outside. Jaylen Watkins acquitted himself well the last two preseason games, playing outside corner.

E. Having above average, veteran safeties helps our young corners. Jenkins and McLeod are ProBowlers.

F. Familiarity with the system and personnel helps. Graham is experienced in the system. Graham also has experience playing with Ronald Darby.

G. Predictability. Knowing their roles helps. Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby seem to be the clear cut starters. After that, who knows? But word on the street is that Jalen Mills is up for the task. If so, oh boy!

H. Kamu Grugier Hill (Roverback). I have a sneaky suspicion BLG is right after all about trading Mychael Kendricks. I was against it because of depth concerns. But if the Eagles trust Goode, Joe Walker and KGH, then we might just trade Kendricks and go with five.

Most importantly, if Grugier Hill at 6'2 220 (Willie Thomas?) can play first and second down, that helps us cover our weakness at corner.

I. Derek Barnett seems to be everything we could ask for.

J. Timmy Jernigan seems to be everything we could ask for.

K. Stephen Means seems to be more than we could've asked for.

L. Elijah Qualls seems to be more than we could've asked for. He was tremendous on Thursday, against the run and the pass, one-on-ones and double teams, I thought. Qualls could actually be starter-quality good.

M. All that is before we get to Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham and adding Chris Long.

Is there anything more on defense we can do at this point?

N. Carson Wentz. Check.

O. Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith. Check.

P. Starting Offensive Line. Check.

Q. Tight Ends. Check.

R. Backup wideouts. Nelson Agholor and Mack Hollins. Okay. Why keep Marcus Johnson and Shelton Gibson? Game breaking speed and Carson Wentz' big arm.

S. Swing tackle, Halipouli Vaitaai. Swing guard, Chance Warmack. Backup center, Steve Wisniewski.

T. Running back. Least important position in 'modern' football. More folks shitting on Pumphrey than happy Clement played his way on. I think they have plans to confuse defenses by using Pumphrey as a hybrid rb/slot receiver. They're not going to scrap that because fans weren't wowwed. 'It's preseason' for good, 'it's preseason' for ho hum.

What else but a #1 running back do we need out of the draft in 18?

Lacking a #1 back and a #1 corner is all that can really be said, and we have Sydney Jones in the back pocket.

We're set up for long-term success!!!